YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase Turkey Chase 10K

Race Results available at http://www.mcrrc.org/racing/2008/08turkeychase.htm

Its been about a month since I did any running. I wanted an accurate gauge of where I am currently so I signed up for the Turkey Chase 10K after visiting mcrrc.org website and noticed that they were managing the race time. I didn’t really train as hard as I could’ve for this race. I was thinking that I’d probably do bad and it would give me motivations to train harder throughout winter. 

One of the reason I wanted to run a road race was to test out my new toy. The infamous Garmin Forerunner 305. In hindsight I should’ve wore the heart monitor for better analysis of my race. I cannot say enough good things about this watch. The in depth analysis of each runs are incredible. Couple with the online tools provided free of charge by MotionBased.com its a steal. My race detail for the Turkey Chase 10k is available at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.do?episodePk.pkValue=7209947 

I arrived pretty early, around 7ish. The race doesn’t start until 8:30AM.  It was FREEZING. I went to pickup my packet and went back out to the car  to put on my bib and time chip. After a while I realize the weather wasn’t gonna let up so I walked out to the tents and faced it head on. Well that and I saw that there was a Starbuck tent offering free coffee and hot chocolate. I checked out all the booths and got myself a nice Tshirt from City Sports for spinning their prize wheels. The others that went before me spinned and landed on the dreaded “pen” spot. Determined to win something better I summoned my prize wheel luck and got the shirt. I was pretty happy with myself

 Its not really a race if I didn’t have doubts or thoughts of quitting and why oh why for the love of god am i putting myself through this never ending torture  when I could be home sleeping ? That epiphany came around mile 3, prior to that I was cruising at 8 minutes mile, thinking I got this 10k down to a science. However, what I think and reality are usually at odds with each other. I slowed down to an 8:45 – 8:50 pace. By  this time a lot of people have passed me. I made a deal with myself that I would not go under an 9 minute pace. I mustered all I could and managed to finish strong, sprinting for the last half mile. In my defense it was freaking cold, and in my infinite wisdom I decided not to wear my gloves. For the first 20 minutes I couldn’t even feel my hands. 

My last 10k was in April of 2008. (Darcars Pike Peeks 10K) My net time was 57:09 with a pace of 9:12. 
Today I ran 10k in 54:26 at 8:46 pace. A 2:43 improvement.  My current goal is to run 10k in under 50 minutes.
Not quite there yet. Gotta keep training.

Turkey Chase 10K

 Its me !

Filed under: I have a love hate relationship with things, Running , garmin forerunner 305, Turkey Chase 10k, YMCA Bethesda Turkey Chase 10K

i am not smrt

This is news to me. As I’ve always consider myself an intelligent soft spoken manboy. OK maybe not, those that know me are wearing that confused look on their face as they read the last sentence. “Are you sure ? I always thought u were an idi.. I mean nice guy “ 

Part of growing up is coming to terms with your shortcomings and work at it everyday to better yourself, or so I heard. My list of shortcomings is too long to list here but the one thing that’s been pestering me is my subpar book smart. I have common sense but that alone won’t get me to anywhere worth going. 

I can think of a few reasons as to why I am in this predicament in the first place, one of it is my inability to commit to anything worthwhile. As such I don’t really know much at all about anything. Another is my extreme laid back (lazy) approach to life. But the real reason is my addiction to funtime. My parents call it “bở học, ham chơi”.

It started in my college years with Warcraft, yes I was an addict. I’ve been getting better but perhaps I am still haunted by my decision to drop out during sophomore year. I’ve been working full time since 2005. Work was required but had I been ambitious I could’ve worked full time and continued school. Nope, I worked and devoted my time to fun. 

I’ve been having way too much fun. There’s a time and place for everything, especially now I need to put aside fun time and get serious about my education. I want more $, I won’t be able to survive on what I make now later in life. Without an education I know I won’t get very far.

So I’ve decided to make time for more worthwhile endeavours and put fun time in the corner. But make no mistake that when I feel that I am where I want to be, fun time will be reinstated in full force. Wheeeee!!!

Filed under: Acceptance, Stream of Consciousness , bo hoc ham choi, I am not smrt, playtime is over

rub salt on an old wound

I got an email today with a link to my “virtual certificate” for finishing MCM. Why oh why ? do I keep getting reminders of this traumatic experience. My legs cramped and I swore an old man in his 70s was chugging right past me at mile 20 as I stopped to massage my calves. The old dude had the nerve to give me a thumb up and nodded his head in disgust, what an ASS!!!  I am forever tormented by the experience, the mere mentions of marathons got me looking down in shame. However for what its worth the certificate looks kinda nice so I included it below. 

I hate you old man with the thumb up

 MUST BEAT 5:08:03 or I won’t be able to live this down.

The email was NOT helping my cause. I forsee myself watching a lot more TV from now on. Why ? because of this article http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/sociss/release.cfm?ArticleID=1789 I heard the 3rd season of Heroes is pretty good, House is another good show ? or that Sarah Connor chick ? damn it I suck!!!

Filed under: Running , DON'T EVER GIVE ME A THUMB UP, I don't take bad news well, MCM 2008 experience, rub salt on old would

Game on

“In running it is man against himself, the cruelest of opponents. The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies within him, in his ability with brain and heart to master himself and his emotions.”
GLENN CUNNINGHAM, American runner in the 1930s

Now that the dust have settled, I’ve come to terms with my disappointing performance in the Marines Corps Marathon. However it was truly my first marathon so I’ll take it for what it is. 5 hours and 12 minutes. That time is now a benchmark for future marathons. It will take months and months of training to best that time but I am up for the challenge. I lost something very dear to me at MCM, if you happen to see it around mile 18 near Haines Point please leave it where it is, I’ll be back to claim it in 2009. 

CRAMPS. The reason for my breakdown. My calves locked up and my thighs were contracted to such a point that it was very difficult to run. I had to let up and walk. I had been running for more than 3 hours, my sodium level was depleted to a point that cramps was the only way my body could tell me that its not safe to keep pushing. From the very start I never drank any gatorade, I took water at every water stops but neglected the gatorade. HUGE MISTAKE. The electrolytes in gatorade would’ve helped keep my sodium level and cramps in check.  It was a learning experience, for future training I will be using salt pills and gatorade to ward off the cramps monster.

I signed up for the Maryland Double Dare on Saturday committing myself to the Frederick marathon in May and the Baltimore marathon in October 2009.  I will also sign up for the Marines Corps marathon again. It will always be special to me, not because it broke me but rather it taught me how to be humbled. I will officially start training for the Frederick marathon in December 2008. I will be using the training program outlined at http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_4/128.shtm running 6 days a week while progressively increasing the long run distance week by week for 20 weeks. 

For now I will keep to the pre-training schedule as detailed in the table below.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Off	4 miles	6 miles	4 miles	6 miles	3 miles	8 miles

As Glenn Cunningham put it, running truly is a contest between you and yourself. A most formidable opponent, who know and feed on your doubt and fears. The satisfaction comes from the knowledge that you’ve bested yourself time and time again.

RUN

Filed under: Running , baltimore marathon, frederick marathon, Glenn Cunningham, marathon training, maryland double dare